I bought a bottom of the line 1965 Rambler Classic 550 back in 1965. It did not have either a left or right side mirror, no backup lights and no windshield washer. I had those features installed after I bought the car.
My first car, a 1947 Pontiac that I bought in 1961 had no side mirrors, no backup lights, no windshield washer and no turn signals. I ordered a turn signal kit from Montgomery Ward and spent an afternoon installing turn signals.
IIRC, a left side mirror, backup lights and windshield washer were federally mandated as of the 1966 model year.
On my father’s '66 Galaxie 500, the reservoir for the washers was a rubber bag that held ~1 qt. On a long drive, on a morning after the roads had been salted, I would typically use-up the washer fluid before I returned home. But, at least it had a windshield washer.
I’m not sure if it was mandated that year, but that '66 Galaxie also came with standard 4-way flashers. This was adopted so late in the design process that there was no place for a control switch on the dashboard. For 1966 at least, you had to open the glove box in order to access the toggle switch for the 4-way flashers.
I also added 4 way flashers to.the 1965 Rambler.
It took them DECADES to change the law. It wasn’t until the 80’s that they were mandated.
I don’t think I’ve used a gallon of washer fluid in my life. I grew up in CA, spent summers in MT, and have spent my adult life living in WA and OR.
When I bought my current daily driver, I noticed the washer fluid didn’t work. The pump runs but no fluid sprays. I assume the pickup screen is plugged. It’s been 2+ years and 40,000 miles. Maybe I’ll look into it one day. 
Now all automobiles have dual sideview mirrors. Is it a globalist plot? Great Scott!
You can attribute well over 90% of all vehicle mandated safety features to the insurance industry and their paid lobbyists.
New Hampshire. I get it.
But I have no problem with common-sense mandates, such as dual-side mirrors, seatbelts at every position, airbags, brake lights, turn signals.
Try again. Mandated safety features are at the federal level. Stop .being an ass. Or are you really that clueless.
I know that.
Nobody’s being an …
By “New Hampshire” I meant that a lot of folks from there share the sentiments you expressed 3-4 posts above, about lobbyists, etc.
Sometimes governments need to step in to protect people from themselves.
I made no expression on how I feel (or anyone in NH) feels about lobbyists.
I don’t need the government to protect me from myself. They should have better things to do. I live near the Niagara river. It is 36 mile long and there is no place on my side of the river that is legal to swim in because in the nanny state of NY you cannot swim anyplace without a lifeguard and no one wants to pay for them on the Niagara river. I swam across it twice as a 12 year old without incident. Actually 4 times because I had to swim back. I have swum in many states where lifeguards are not required and that makes life more fun.
The point of living is not to be wrapped in padding to keep you safe from everything until you die of old age and boredom.
Never ask permission to do something, it implies they have the right to stop you.
You’re entitled to your opinion. But the government wasn’t made to serve one person
The laws are in place to not only protect the people who can’t swim it, but also the search and rescue teams that have to be sent out to save them or recover the body. Mountain climbing in NH can be very dangerous - especially if not properly prepared. Prior to NH passing a law saying that if we have to rescue your *ss and you weren’t properly prepared then you’ll be paying for that rescue which in some cases are well over $100,000. Back in the 80’s they had to rescue an idiot in May who tried to climb Mt Washington in flip-flops. He made it about half way up before he got hit with a snow storm. At the base the temps were in the mid 60’s.
Wow, I think 95+ % of my swimming has been done in areas without life guards. In the 60s there was a beach near Mpls we favored. We would go there after the lifeguards left, nobody cared. Got chased out by the sheriff’s deputies once, but only because the lake had been sprayed for weeds and they told us to shower.
Oh really?………..
About 15 years ago I saw two doctors on one appointment. After both fully evaluated me, I mentioned that I needed their permission to resume driving.
The female doctor was in shock that I held a valid drivers license and told me she didn’t think I was fit to be around the wheels. The male Dr. interrupted her and told her to explain why she felt that way.
Both doctors were now arguing in front of me and my relatives. The male doctor shut down the female doctor by stating that there was no law prohibiting me from driving. She wasn’t happy that morning judging from her facial expression, and so i got permission from the male doctor for assuming driving.
I then immediately changed my doctor and mentioned this to my new doctor. My new doctor said this is why it is never good to have the government puts its nose in people’s lives as there is always one bad guy that will use the law to destroy an individual.
If someone were to read your posts I think they would side with the Lady Doctor.
I have no proof that it was my wicked step mother that reported my 89 year old dad to the police, dead now but she did slip him a mickey before he drove away once. At any rate he was required to take a drivers test at 89. Back then you never took a test and he maintained his commercial license for years and drove hundreds of thousands of miles.
At any rate, we went out driving to go over proper procedures that the examiner would be checking. He had to go back a second time because they made him back into an alley ten foot wide with snow banks on both sides. He passed the second time no problem much to th3 dismay of my step mother (dead now). With the new cars and limited ability to turn and see behind you, I’m not sure I could hav3 done it.
So I say for cripe sake leave people alone. If dmv has no problem, and insurance has no problem, people will tend to compensate for any deficiencies they might have. Like Taryl says, they aren’t driving a rocket ship. People that survived the 30s, ran up th3 hill on D Day, and worked hard all their lives deserve a little pass. Pet peave of mind to all you arm chair enforcers.
I read Mike’s post as a statement of fact, not an opinion. Almost all auto insurers in the US are members of IIHS. As you may know, IIHS does safety testing for the industry. You can find what they test at IIHS.org. The list is extensive. Insurers may also have lobbyists to frame the test results to Congress in the way that the insurance industry wants Congress to see it.